New agency nurse, please help!

I start this next weekend at my first agency assignment. I have been a LPN for 10 months now and have had three jobs. One in a nursing home, one in assisted living, and one in a pediatric office. I will be working 3rd shift in a nursing home for most of my agency assignments. I'm very nervous and can really use some advice.

Anyone who has worked agency, do you have any suggestions about what to do in order to succeed? (I am also 18 years old, which has caused me some problems recently with people treating me as though I'm less of a nurse because of my age) so I know the fact that I look young will probably add some hostility.

What are the typical things that go wrong in nursing homes(like medical problems), and what are the typical solutions? Please, any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

I start this next weekend at my first agency assignment. I have been a LPN for 10 months now and have had three jobs. One in a nursing home, one in assisted living, and one in a pediatric office. I will be working 3rd shift in a nursing home for most of my agency assignments. I'm very nervous and can really use some advice.

Anyone who has worked agency, do you have any suggestions about what to do in order to succeed? (I am also 18 years old, which has caused me some problems recently with people treating me as though I'm less of a nurse because of my age) so I know the fact that I look young will probably add some hostility.

What are the typical things that go wrong in nursing homes(like medical problems), and what are the typical solutions? Please, any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

Megan H.

Megan,
First of all, don't focus on your age, if you project professionalism and confidence, no one will look at your age. Besides, we were all young nurses once! (Me a loooooong time ago!)
Some of the things you can do for yourself are to insist on Non-Facility, private, A or B rated apartments. This way they won't try to stick you in an unused room at the LTC facility. Plus, you won't have a roommate to put up with if you don't get along. Also, make sure you have approvall of your quarters before you move in, and they have to provide you with what you asked for. Havng to stay in a rat-hole is a lousy way to spend your contract, and you'll be miserable. Plus , it can be dangerous for your safety.
Make sure you get direct-deposit for your paycheck so there won't be any delays in you getting payed. Not having any money is also a miserable way to spend any contract in a strange city.
Read your contract thouroughly!, so there are no doubts as to what you are expected to do while you're on assignment. You don't want to find out you are going to be on the night shift and pulling call every weekend and holiday because you didn't take the time. Everything you do has to be spelled out. Of course, we all have fudged our contracts for people whom we like and treat us well.
Check out the facility you are going to just like you would if you were going to put your Grandmother there. Go online, talk to other employees, whatever you can to see what it is really like. The interview is a great way to find out what kind of employer this facility is. Write down some questions you would like the answers to before the interview and make sure you ask them.
That should, at least, get you started. Welcome to the world of travelling, you can make it a great experience with a little preparation!

I start this next weekend at my first agency assignment. I have been a LPN for 10 months now and have had three jobs. One in a nursing home, one in assisted living, and one in a pediatric office. I will be working 3rd shift in a nursing home for most of my agency assignments. I'm very nervous and can really use some advice.

Anyone who has worked agency, do you have any suggestions about what to do in order to succeed? (I am also 18 years old, which has caused me some problems recently with people treating me as though I'm less of a nurse because of my age) so I know the fact that I look young will probably add some hostility.

What are the typical things that go wrong in nursing homes(like medical problems), and what are the typical solutions? Please, any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

Megan H.

Megan,
First of all, don't focus on your age, if you project professionalism and confident, no one will look at your age. Besides, we were all young nurses once! (Me a loooooong time ago!)
Some of the things you can do for yourself are to insist on Non-Facility, private, A or B rated apartments. This way they won't try to stick you in an unused room at the LTC facility. Plus, you won't have a roommate to put up with if you don't get along. Also, make sure you have approvall of your quarters before you move in, and they have to provide you with what you asked for. Havng to stay in a rat-hole is a lousy way to spend your contract, and you'll be miserable. Plus , it can be dangerous for your safety.
Make sure you get direct-deposit for your paycheck so there won't be any delays in you getting payed. Not having any money is also a miserable way to spend any contract in a strange city.
Read your contract thouroughly!, so there are no doubts as to what you are expected to do while you're on assignment. You don't want to find out you are going to be on the night shift and pulling call every weekend and holiday because you didn't take the time. Everything you do has to be spelled out. Of course, we all have fudged our contracts for people whom we like and treat us well.
Check out the facility you are going to just like you would if you were going to put your Grandmother there. Go online, talk to other employees, whatever you can to see what it is really like. The interview is a great way to find out what kind of employer this facility is. Write down some questions you would like the answers to before the interview and make sure you ask them.
That should, at least, get you started. Welcome to the world of travelling, you can make it a great experience with a little preparation!

What are the typical things that go wrong in nursing homes(like medical problems), and what are the typical solutions? Please, any help that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much
Megan H.

You know I realize that everyone learns and progresses in in different time frames, but from the questions you have asked above, I get the impression that you are not ready to be on a travel assignment with only 10 months experience. I am even more distressed that any agency hired you, and the facility accepted you! Just my opinion.

Find a mentor that you can talk to, because you will need someone to talk to, and it is a big no no to talk to staff at your assignment. Hopefully you have a awesome recruiter who has a clue about nursing homes and nursing. I wish you the best!

Jul 15, '08

UPDATE-

My agency job is going great. I've learned a lot and am now very comfortable. I keep an emergency nursing book with me at all times and read it whenever i get a chance just to cover the "what if's."

I have been very successful since signing with an agency and enjoy it very much. Thanks everyone for the help.